Name, position, height, weight, school/country, age
DEANDRE AYTON, C, 7-0, 252, Arizona, 27
Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, comes to Los Angeles on a two-year, $16.2 million contract that puts him in the position to get a more lucrative deal next summer if his on-court impact for the Lakers is comparable to his last couple of seasons with the Phoenix Suns instead of his forgettable pair of seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. Ayton has been productive throughout his career, averaging 14.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, and the Lakers are hoping he’ll fortify their interior presence after relying on small-ball lineups for significant stretches of last season.
LUKA DONCIC, G, 6-6, 230, Slovenia, 26
After an emotionally and mentally exhausting 2024-25 season that included his shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers and a strained left calf that sidelined him for several weeks, Doncic has settled in: he bought a new house in Southern California; signed a three-year contract extension with the Lakers that further solidified him as the face of the franchise; actively recruited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart in free agency; showcased his slimmed down physique with Slovenia during EuroBasket. The Lakers are hoping the best version of Doncic, who is already a five-time All-NBA first-team honoree, will lead them to championship contention now and for years to come.
RUI HACHIMURA, F, 6-8, 230, Gonzaga, 27
Hachimura’s play with the Lakers over the last couple of seasons has solidified him as a Day One starter – a designation he’ll carry into this season. The next steps for Hachimura, who is entering a contract year with the three-year, $51 million deal he signed with the Lakers in the summer of 2023 expiring after this season: improved consistency with his rebounding and defensive effort.
JAXSON HAYES, C, 7-0, 220, Texas, 25
Hayes had the biggest role of his career on the best team he’s been on when he was the Lakers’ starting center to close out last season after the team traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the deal that brought Doncic to Los Angeles. He thrived early on, flourishing alongside Doncic in pick-and-rolls before his playing time was reduced significantly by the end of the regular season and playoffs. Despite how last season ended, he returned to Los Angeles on a one-year deal and slots into a more appropriate role as a backup big behind Ayton.
BRONNY JAMES, G, 6-2, 212, USC, 21
James, the Lakers’ late second-pound pick in the 2024 draft, predictably had a more scrutinized rookie year than most with his draft position. It comes with the territory of being the son of the league’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, with the two making history last season as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. The younger James spent most of last season going back and forth between the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate and the parent team, allowing him to get much-needed on-court reps to develop. Even with a strong year of development, it appears he won’t be in the rotation to start his second season.
LeBRON JAMES, F, 6-9, 250, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, 40
James’ unparalleled longevity reached new heights last year: for the first time since joining the Lakers in 2018, he played in at least 70 games for consecutive seasons en route to a record-extending 21st All-NBA team honor. The four-time league MVP is entering unchartered territory. Not only because 2025-26 will be an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, but because for the first time in his career, James isn’t the central figure of his team’s title-contending hopes.
MAXI KLEBER, F/C, 6-10, 240, Germany, 33
Kleber joined the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks in early February as part of the transaction that brought Doncic to Los Angeles. The German big man was sidelined for most of his time with the Lakers because of a fractured right foot, making his team debut during the season-ending Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After having an offseason to get healthier, he could offer the Lakers a different backup big look as an option who better stretches the floor compared to Hayes.
DALTON KNECHT, G/F, 6-5, 215, Tennessee, 24
The Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick in June, Knecht projects to start the season outside of the rotation. His shooting and scoring skillset are NBA-ready, but he hasn’t developed enough of a well-rounded game to make an impact in other ways.
*CHRISTIAN KOLOKO, C, 7-0, 230, Arizona, 25
Koloko, a Sierra Canyon High alum, played 37 games for the Lakers last season after being cleared by the league’s Fitness-to-Play Panel because of blood clot issues that sidelined him during 2023-24. He’ll likely be the fourth-string center behind Ayton, Hayes and Kleber.
JAKE LaRAVIA, G, 6-7, 235, Wake Forest, 23
A first-round pick from the 2022 draft, LaRavia is expected to provide an infusion of youth and complementary play around the team’s main ball handlers and stars. He shot 37.1% from 3-point range in his three combined seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, and is a strong defensive playmaker.
*CHRIS MANON, G, 6-5, 215, Vanderbilt, 23
A disruptive defensive playmaker, Manon started his college career at Cornell, leading the Ivy League in steal percentage in 2022-23 and 2023-24 before transferring to Vanderbilt. Manon played for the Golden State Warriors’ summer league team after going undrafted out of Vanderbilt.
AUSTIN REAVES, G, 6-5, 197, Oklahoma, 27
Reaves’ progression as a player has been notable every season of his career. He’s gone from going undrafted in 2021 to being one of the Lakers’ stars, and one of just 13 NBA players to average at least 20 points/5.5 assists/4.5 rebounds in 2024-25. Reaves, who has a $13.9 million salary for this season and a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27, is expected to receive a significant pay bump next summer.
MARCUS SMART, G, 6-3, 220, Oklahoma State, 31
The 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Defense honoree, the Lakers will be looking for Smart to bring toughness, leadership and defensive intensity. They’re also hoping for a return to form for Smart, who played 54 combined games for Memphis and Washington over the last two seasons because of a variety of injuries.
*NICK SMITH JR., G, 6-2, 185, Arkansas, 21
The No. 27 pick in the 2023 draft, Smith averaged 8 points (39.1% shooting overall – 36.9% from 3-point range), 1.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 111 games (27 starts) across his two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets waived Smith to become roster-compliant before he joined the Lakers.
ADOU THIERO, F, 6-8, 220, Arkansas, 21
Thiero, whom the Lakers selected out of Arkansas with the No. 36 pick in June’s NBA draft, averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game during his junior season with the Razorbacks after spending his first two college seasons at Kentucky. He stood out with his defensive playmaking, offensive rebounding and highlight-reel finishes at the rim. Thiero will miss the start of the season because of left knee ailments that stemmed from college.
JARRED VANDERBILT, F, 6-8, 214, Kentucky, 26
Arguably the Lakers’ best defender, Vanderbilt looked like the pre-injury version of himself during the preseason after foot ailments impacted his availability and athleticism the past two seasons. Vanderbilt appears to have worked on his finishing around the rim, but his outside jump shot remains an uncertainty.
GABE VINCENT, G, 6-2, 200, UC Santa Barbara, 29
Vincent, entering his third season with the Lakers, appears to be in line to enter the season as a starter in light of LeBron James being sidelined because of sciatica. His point-of-attack defense and outside shooting are complementary skills next to Doncic and Reaves.
* = two-way contract player